THE VOLUNTEERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1168, 15 November 1871, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

,/ The Christchurch Battery of Artillery paraded at the Drill-shed on Thursday inoming last, for the purpose of proceeding to Sumner to compete with shot and shell for eight prizes given by the officers. Besides full gun detachments for the Armstrong and howitzer, under the command of Lieut. Stansell, there was also a mounted detachment under the command of. Lieut. Craig. The members of the battery were headed by their fine band during the march through the town, and appeared in excellent order and equipment. jOn arriving at Sumner the guns were immediately placed in position at 1200 yards from the targets, and the firing at once commenced. Four detachments competed, and the following is the result : — Howitzer. No. 1 Detachment. Quarter-Master Sergt. Raven, 2 yards to the right. . Gunner Ward, 30 yards to the right. Gunner Bacefield, 80 yards short ; 4 yards to the right. Farrier Johnston, 2 yards over. Gunner Andrews, 4 yards over ; 5 yards to the right. Acting Captain Ormandy, 15 yards short. Bombardier King, 3 yards over ; 2 yards to the right. j Gunnner Treleaven, 5 yards over ; 3 yards to the left. Gunner William, 6 yards to the left. No. 2 Detachment. Sergt. Roberts, bull's-eye. Corpl. M'lntosh, 2 feet to the right. Gunner Long, 6 yards over j 23 yards to the left. | Gunner Hobbs, 10 yards short. ' Gunner Atkyns, 5 yards over. Gunner Fye, 31 yarcls short, and to the left. Gunner Stringer, 5 yards over. Gunner Day, 7 yards to the left. Gunner Johnstone, 5 yards in front. Armstrong. No. 1 Detachment. Sergt. Piper, 2 yards over. Gunner^ Harper, 3 yards over. Corpl. Richardson, not seen ; fell midway. Gunner Childs, bull's-eye. Gunner Barnes, 60 yards short. Band-master Baldwin, 40 yards short. Gunner Taylor, 4 yards over ; 1 yard to the left Gunner Brunsden, 5 yards over. Gunner Triggs, 15 yards short. No. 2 Detachment. Sergt. Woodford, 2 feet over. Gunner Dunkerly, 300 yards short. Gunner Gapes, 7 yards to the right. Gunner Whitfield, 50 yards short. Bombardier Ormandy, 1 foot over. Acting Gunner Raven, 4 yards over. Gunner Treleaven, 2 yards to the left. Hon. Member Conn, bull's-eye. Gunner King, bull's-eye. The prizes were — one for the best shot amongst the non-commissioned officers, and one for the best amongst the gunners in each detachment. They consequently fall as follows : Howitzer — No. 1 Detachment : Quarter-master Sergeant ßaven, and Farrier Johnstone; No. 2 Detachment, Sergeant Roberts and Gunner Stringer. Armstrong — No. 1 Detachment, Sergeant Piper and Gunner Childs ; No. 2 Detachment, Sergeant Woodford and Gunner King. Tho officers also fired at the target, when Lieut. Craig scored a bull's-eye, and Lieut. Stansell went some yards over. On Friday last, the first competition for the individual ownership of Mr Bishop's Cup, Avon some time ago by the City Guards, in competition with other head-quarter corps, took place at the Hillsborough range. The weather was very wet and unpleasant, thus only three competitors fired, and the following is the result — the conditions being fire shots at each range, any position : —

* Retired. Considering the weather, Private Paton's score was exceedingly creditable. The cup lias to be won twice before becoming private property, thus Private Paton has to record another success before taking final possession of ifc. We should state that Private Paton was also the winner of the ladies' belt at the last monthly competition. Yesterday afternoon, the first competition by members of the C.V.C., for the £10 cup, given by Lieut. White, took place at the Hillsborough range, but was not attended with any practical result. The conditions were that the cup should be won twice before becoming private property, with a score on each occasion ot not less than 40 points, and the highest total made yesterday was one point snort of this number. The ranges were '100, 500, and 600 yards, with Hythe position and regulation targets, and the best shooting was that by .Trooper Cohn, who scored 37 points. The weather was very favourable, and the only manner in which to account for the comparatively small scores is the want of

practice by the competitors. The cup will be fired for again on Tuesday next. It has been suggested to arrange a match amongst the volunteers, under the title Old Chums v. New Chums. It is proposed that the former shall consist of Volunteers enrolled ut, or previous to, the re-organisation in 1564, and the latter of those enrolled since tha -

300 400 500 H 1 yds. yds. yds. g Private Paton ... 18 15 14 47 Private Lilburn ... 6 10 6 22 Lieut. Wolfe ... 10 *